Two Brentford players were left bloodied after stepping in to help a man during an alleged racist attack in Richmond, according to an exclusive report from The Telegraph, while the Metropolitan Police say an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
Two Brentford players were left bloodied after coming to the aid of a man in Richmond, according to an exclusive report from The Telegraph. The newspaper reported that the players stepped in during what it described as an alleged racist attack, with both hurt in the process.
The pair have not been named publicly in The Telegraph’s report, but the story is likely to prompt immediate concern given the seriousness of the alleged incident and the fact the players were injured while trying to help someone else.
According to The Telegraph, A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police attended a report of an assault on Queen’s Road, Richmond at around 02:00hrs on Sunday, 22 March. Officers engaged with the victim. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.”
While The Telegraph’s exclusive established the involvement of the two Brentford players, the police confirmation makes clear that the incident is being treated as an active investigation rather than simply an unverified account. At this stage, Brentford have not publicly commented on the report.
The timing is also notable. The incident is reported to have happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, only hours after Brentford’s 0-0 Premier League draw away to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday night. Because of the international break, players had been permitted to make their own way back rather than travel together as a squad, with the two involved reportedly amonst those to have been returning from Yorkshire themselves when they came across the incident in Richmond.
The incident is an unsettling backdrop for Brentford at a point in the season when every result carries added weight.
For Brentford, the report comes at a significant point in the season. Andrews’ side remain firmly in the race for European Football, with little margin for distraction as the campaign enters its final weeks following the international break.
That makes the welfare of the two players involved all the more important, with Brentford still fighting for a finish that would rank among the biggest achievements of their Premier League era.